All Posts in "The Senior Scene"

By Brad Chastain

It’s no great secret older adults are an increasingly large share of America’s population. The birth rate  has fallen by more than half since the early 1960s. Typical life expectancy in the U.S. has increased by about a decade over the same span. And the last members of the Baby Boomer generation, which totals more than 75 million people, will hit their 60s starting in 2024.

America’s aging has far-reaching implications for society and the economy. Older workers’ retirements will decrease the size of the labor force and potentially leave many positions unfilled. Their transition from paying into programs like Social Security and Medicare to drawing the benefits will put extra strain on government budgets. Older Americans’ needs for health and social services will shape the economy as demand in those fields increases in the years to come. Lifestyle preferences can determine where and how communities grow and provide necessities like housing and transportation.

In some respects, the shifts underway in the U.S. reflect common demographic patterns in developed economies. Across the world, upper-middle income and high-income countries tend to have the lowest fertility rates and longest life expectancies. With fewer new births and the existing population living longer, the average age of a population increases over time.

Data from other major economies confirm that the aging trends in the U.S. are no outliers. Germany and the United Kingdom have followed a similar trajectory, with the share of the 65-and-over population roughly doubling from the mid-20th century to 2023. And in Asia, the trends are even more dramatic. Japan has seen its 65-and-over population increase from less than 5 percent in the early 1950s to more than 30 percent today. The percentage of the population 65 and over in China has more than doubled since the turn of the century, to 14 percent in 2023.

While the aging pattern in the U.S. is consistent with that of other developed economies, the Baby Boomer generation is a primary reason for the rapid growth of the senior population here over the last decade. More than 75 million Americans were born between 1946 and 1964, and as the members of that group have reached their later years, the population of seniors has increased.

From 2012 (the year after the first Baby Boomers turned 65) to 2022, America’s oldest generation had the fastest growth rates among men and women. The percentage of the U.S. population 65 and over increased from 13.7 percent to 17.3 percent. At the same time, those under 25 experienced a decline in their population shares.

In a study of that 10-year period, the populations of Tacoma and Seattle didn’t age quite as fast as the country as a whole. The percentage growths among 65-and-up were 3.6 nationally, 3.4 percent for Tacoma, and 2.4 percent for Seattle.

Some regions are aging more rapidly than others–in particular, the New England states of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Vermont leads the nation with a 5.9 percent increase in its senior population between 2012 and 2022, followed closely by Maine at 5.6 percent and New Hampshire at 5.5 percent. Western states, including Wyoming (5.6 percent), Hawaii (5.4 percent), and Alaska (5.3 percent) also rank highly for their growth rates.

The most rapidly aging cities are spread throughout the country. In some cases, Sun Belt destinations are proving to be attractive retirement locations that are bringing more older adults into the population. In others, economic decline has limited the number of younger people moving in or families adding children, allowing the existing older population to grow.

Analysis of these trends was conducted by U.S. Money Reserve using data from the Census Bureau. Some highlights:

  • Among the largest cities (populations of at least 350,000), the five most rapidly aging cities (percentage increase of 65-and-older residents over a 10-year period) are led by New Orleans, where in 2022 17.3 percent of its residents were 65-plus, an increase of almost 6 percent since 2012. Next in line are Virginia Beach, Va. (16.1 percent, 4.8 percent), Albuquerque, N.M. (17.4 percent, 4.6 percent), Memphis, Tenn. (15 percent, 4.4 percent), and San Francisco (18.3 percent, 4.3 percent). Seattle ranks 40th at 13.8 percent and 2.4 percent..
  • Mid-size cities (150,000 to 349,999 residents) include Tacoma, which is ranked 63rd in that category at 14.7 percent and 3.4 percent. Spokane (17.6 percent, 3.1 percent) is 76th, Vancouver (16.7 percent, 2.9 percent) is 85th, and Bellevue is 127th (13.4 percent, -0.5 percent). Cape Coral, Fla. Is first at 25.1 percent and 7.5 percent.

Tacoma gained notoriety in 2020 for the benefits of its older residents when it was designated as part of the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities, which  provides cities, counties and states with resources to become more age-friendly by tapping into national and global research, planning models, and best practices  Mayor Victoria Woodard said “the aging population is a group that we sometimes forget as policymakers. The city is dedicated to helping our residents of all ages live their best lives, and we will do our part to help make that happen.”

  • The small-city rankings (100,000-149,999 population) have Everett 75th at 13.8 percent and 3.5 percent. Columbia, Md. (19.5 percent, 8.9 percent) leads.

Source: U.S. Money Reserve, a consumer finances advisor and broker of government-issued gold and other precious metals.

The Senior Scene by — January 4, 2024 in News
Dialing 2-1-1 connects family caregivers with help

By Jason Erskine

AARP Washington has joined forces with 2-1-1 and United Way Worldwide to connect residents with trained, compassionate people in their communities who can provide caregiving help at any time, any day.

People who provide care for someone—like a family member or friend—need care, too, but navigating available services or programs that can help can be a challenge. Through 2-1-1, a free information and referral helpline, caregivers can talk to actual individuals in their community to find local resources for loved ones and themselves, too.

Through 2-1-1, family caregivers can:

  • Get immediate support and talk with a local resource specialist.
  • Address basic necessities such as housing, food, and utilities for themselves and their loved ones.
  • Connect to local services and organizations that can help with transportation needs, provide healthcare and information and resources including prescription payment assistance, and access to food delivery services, home safety programs, and veterans’ benefits.
  • Get referrals to specialized help for themselves and their loved ones.

“As champions for caregivers, we know at AARP that caregiving can be a complex and challenging role, and many may not know where to turn to for help or may be overwhelmed by the sheer number of resources available,” said AARP Washington director Marguerite Ro. “2-1-1 simplifies the process by helping caregivers connect to programs and services, access financial assistance and emotional support in their communities, and more.”

“Across America, 2-1-1 is seeing continued demand for local services to help family caregivers and their loved ones,” said Joshua Pedersen, senior director of 2-1-1 at United Way Worldwide. “Often, someone might call, text or chat 2-1-1 to find out what support is available for their loved one, and the call specialist is trained to hear when they need more support for themselves, too. By joining forces with AARP, this will help fill a critical resource gap.  

2-1-1 trained call specialists respond to 50,000 requests for help every day all over the U.S. and tap into 1.5 million local resources. Washingtonians can get the local information they need by simply dialing 2-1-1 for free help. Or visit www.aarp.org/211care.

Jason Erskine is AARP Washington’s communications director.

The Senior Scene by — December 27, 2023 in News
Life after 65 really can be the best

By David Cravitt and Larry Wolf

Let’s consider the phrase itself: “The best years of your life.” It sounds nice, but are they really?

Not in the past. Life after 65 was (a) short and (b) often painful. You didn’t have much time left – maybe 10 to 12 years or so – and the best you could hope for was to be relatively free from illness and pain and debilitating decline. “Best years of your life,” indeed.

But today, a 65-year-old can reasonably aspire to another 20 or 30 years – maybe more. In fact, the fastest-growing age group, in percentage terms, is the centenarian.

Welcome to the Super Aging revolution.

We didn’t coin the term, but we’ve embraced it as the perfect way to describe the new reality: Now you have plenty of time to make new plans, learn new things, explore, achieve, be fulfilled in exciting new ways.

You can get older without getting old. Okay, but how?

We came at this from a layman’s point of view, from the perspective of people who are actually doing the aging. We surveyed the current wisdom, talked to the experts, and tried to act as our readers’ eyes and ears, navigating the crowded and often confusing information landscape to arrive at a concrete, actional blueprint for making Super Aging a reality. We identified seven key pillars:

Attitude.

People with a positive attitude live longer. But it goes beyond just a vague, feel-good notion of optimism in general. It’s anchored to a concrete vision of what you want to do. Can you make yourself optimistic? Can you create such a vision? Yes.

Awareness.

When it comes to longevity, so many new things are happening so quickly that there’s a lot more to know and a lot more to keep up with. Super Agers are active seekers and consumers of information on topics from health to finance to tech to “reinvention.” This requires a systematic approach.

Activity.

This applies to diet and fitness (including brain health). You have to be a proactive manager of your own health and wellness. In particular, there area some important new methods and ideas to know about.

Accomplishment.

It may be a refusal to retire “on schedule” at 65; it may be semi-retirement; it may be coming back out of retirement, or having a side gig, or staying active through volunteer work. The Super Aging years can, and should, be years of achievement. Did you know there are coaches that can help?

Autonomy.

Super Agers want to be independent, and a sense of independence definitely contributes to duration and quality of life. Autonomy includes physical independence (aging in place) and financial independence (a challenging issue since you’ll need funds to cover a much longer lifespan).

Attachment.

Research demonstrates conclusively that isolation and loneliness exert a seriously harmful effect on health. While everone wants to maintain strong existing relationships, Super Agers are more likely to reach out for more – for example, to go beyond their immediate networks and create digital connections.

Avoidance.

Negative influences must be resisted. These include frauds and scams, ageism in the marketplace, and obsolete advisors (possibly even your doctor) who, with the best intentions, don’t understand the new realities of Super Aging.

Can you be a SuperAger? It’s more possible than ever before. Through our book and its companion website, SuperAging.info, hopefully we can help.

David Cravit and Larry Wolf are co-authors of “Superaging: Getting Older Without Getting Old.” They work in the media and marketing industries.

The Senior Scene by — December 27, 2023 in Lifestyle, Home, Adventures

By Roger Least

The much-buzzed-about “silver tsunami” poses major opportunities for the senior-living industry. In 2022, the U.S. assisted-living market size was valued at $91 billion and is expected to grow at an annual rate of 5.5 percent from 2023 to 2030. From a population standpoint, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the 75 to 84 age group made up roughly 14 million (29 percent) of the senior population in 2016, which is more than double the number and proportion of those 85 and older. Around 27 percent of the population is between 75 and 84.

In short, the senior-living Industry is positioned for notable growth as it welcomes the Baby Boomer generation into communities. With this comes a shift in thinking, consumption, and lifestyle.

As the corporate dining director at Brightview Senior Living, a company of independent and assisted-living communities in eight East Coast states, I oversee the dining experience at all 46 communities.. I work with teams who are cooking in the kitchen and serving in the dining rooms to balance nostalgic food favorites with nutrient-dense options to optimize their nutrition and overall health.

We know through research that food and community go hand-in-hand: The more often people eat with others, the more likely they are to feel happy and satisfied with their lives. Thus, from an overall health and socialization standpoint, the senior-living dining experience is more crucial than ever.

Hare the three senior living dining trends we’re seeing:

  1. Introducing a reservation system: We learned of the dangers of isolation during quarantine due to COVID-19. In fact, social isolation was associated with about a 50 percent increased risk of dementia, according to the national Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Meals, particularly dinner, are often the highlight of our residents’ day. To make dining an even more enjoyable social event, we have implemented a reservation system to secure their table in advance and invite their friends to join them, We’re rolling this program out as needed in some of our communities, and so far, the response has been positive.
  2. Composting and the quest to reduce food waste: Beyond the economic benefits of eliminating food waste (as food prices continue to skyrocket), our communities are composting to promote sustainability.
    Composting nourishes soil, prompts seasonal gardening for residents, encourages residents to spend more time outdoors, and sparks conservation. This is a low-cost, high-value way to promote smarter consumption, a win-win for all.
  3. Accommodating adventurous eaters and dietary preferences: We’re seeing Boomers step outside this norm for meal options. This includes seasonal food and the option to try new cuisines. We’re projecting more gluten-free, vegetarian, and Mediterranean diet options in the coming years.

The senior-living dining experience is more than preparing three meals a da.: it’s breaking bread, connecting with others, and providing a hospitality experience. As we welcome the next generation into our communities, we look forward to learning from them and catering to their needs – while maybe even getting them to try something new along the way.

The Senior Scene by — December 27, 2023 in Food, People